What Is Runtime Security? 

Runtime security is a security approach that protects a workload or an entire application when it is executed. 

A runtime security tool monitors, detects, and prevents cybersecurity threats from affecting processes inside the cloud-native environment. These processes could be inside any object in a cloud environment, including a serverless function, container, or host. 

The approach focuses on end-to-end, real-time monitoring rather than scanning static files. 

This ensures that the application doesn’t come across cybersecurity risks while it’s being executed in production. 

all objects in the cloud environment including applications, users, data, and network—to respond to threats as they happen.

Why is Runtime Security Important?

As with any new IT strategy, the concept of runtime security arose due to the shortcomings of the traditional approach. 

Earlier, securing an application from cyberattacks only involved static and dynamic analysis. 

A static analysis tool scans code for vulnerabilities before deployment to alert the responsible team regarding potential issues.

On the other hand, dynamic analysis tested the code in a controlled environment finding vulnerabilities during execution. 

The only problem here is a simulated or isolated environment like a testing server or sandbox cloud cannot fully replicate the complexities of live production environments. Cyberattacks, after all, don’t happen in neatly controlled scenarios. Real-world environments are messy and unpredictable.

That’s where runtime security comes in. Runtime security actively monitors applications in real-time as they run in production. It doesn’t just check for known vulnerabilities. It finds unusual malicious behavior that could indicate an attack.

Another issue with traditional security like EDR is they struggle in dynamic cloud environments because they aren’t built to handle rapidly changing workloads. Runtime security, on the other hand, is designed to monitor, detect, and respond to threats as they happen, offering a more flexible and comprehensive defense.

In short, runtime security provides ongoing protection that adapts to the evolving threats faced in real-world applications. It is crucial for ensuring the safety of cloud-native and production environments.

Runtime Risks in Modern Architectures:

Many security issues arise when applications are running and interacting with other systems. Attackers target this window to compromise resources, steal data, or hijack computing power. Here are 3 different runtime risks in modern architecture:

Container Vulnerabilities

Applications in modern architecture often run in containers because they have greater scalability and efficiency. While there are tons of benefits, there are also significant risks that could completely jeopardize your system. 

The question is: Why do runtime risks arise in containers? 

It’s because when a container is running, it interacts with other systems, resources, and networks. These interactions can expose vulnerabilities that wouldn’t be visible when the container is not in use.

Furthermore, containers are often built using software libraries and dependencies. If these dependencies are prone to risk, there is a high chance they contain vulnerability during execution. 

Here are a few key risks related to container vulnerabilities:

• Container Escape Allowing Host System Access
• Outdated Base Images Introducing Known Vulnerabilities
• Malicious Image Injection Stealing System Resources

Orchestrator Vulnerabilities

Orchestrators like Kubernetes manage containers at scale to automate tasks and scale processes in a dynamic environment. These containers are constantly created, updated, and scaled based on workload demands. 

Why does runtime error arise? 

Runtime errors arise because, during runtime, orchestrators actively schedule containers, balance loads, and manage communications between services. This dynamic flow of processes exposes vulnerabilities that are difficult to detect in a static state, where no active requests or workloads are being processed.

In a static state, the system presents a smaller attack surface since fewer components are actively in use. However, when running, orchestrators have more exposed services, open ports, and live interactions, increasing potential entry points for attackers, which makes runtime the most vulnerable phase for security risks.

Here are a few key Orchestrators Vulnerabilities:

• API Server Vulnerabilities Giving Unauthorized Access
• Exposed Kubelet API Letting Attackers Control Containers
• Misconfigurations

Serverless Platform Vulnerabilities

Serverless architectures offer flexibility to manage organization infrastructure. Using serverless architecture allows developers to focus solely on writing code while the cloud provider handles server management, scaling, and maintenance. 

Functions are executed only when triggered, and resources are automatically provisioned as well as scaled based on demand. 

Runtime threats in serverless platforms arise because the core functionality, or “serverless functions,” only executes when triggered by specific events like API requests or database changes. When these functions are invoked, they interact with external systems, process user data, and communicate with APIs in real-time.

During high-demand periods, the volume of requests increases the chances of security risk. 

Here are the most common Serverless Platform Vulnerabilities:

• Insecure API Gateways Allowing Unauthorized Access
• Injection Attacks Due to Weak Input Validation
• Real-Time Exploitation During Function Invocation

How Does Runtime Security Work?

Runtime security protects your cloud when it’s most vulnerable. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how it works:

Hardening the Environment

Once runtime security is integrated into your cloud infrastructure, it begins by hardening the runtime environment. This means it reduces the attack surface by locking down potential entry points for attackers. 

It ensures that only approved executables and commands are allowed to run. The tools preserve the integrity of your containers and go on blocking unauthorized activities, like rootkits or crypto miners. This creates a strong defense ensuring no attackers get access to touch your running workloads. 

Real-Time Threat Detection

Runtime observes application behavior and looks for any suspicious patterns or anomalies that might signal an attack. The system detects even stealthy threats like file-less malware or in-memory attacks that traditional tools often miss. 

These tools often use behavior-based and signature-based detection to identify both known and unknown threats. Based on the validation and priority of the threat the tool takes further steps. 

Stopping Malicious Activity

When a threat is detected, runtime security takes quick measures to prevent it as soon as possible. The tool works continuously to spot Indicators of compromise (IOCs) so that malicious activities are shut down without affecting legitimate processes.

The security policies and rules define the response a runtime security tool makes to detected threats. The organization’s security team, including key roles like the Chief Security Officer (CSO), CIO/CTO, and Security Operations Center (SOC) analysts, creates these rules.

Generally speaking, organizations set automated responses to handle simple high-severity threats, while the security team manually handles complex cases. 

Swift Incident Response

If an attack does manage to get through, runtime security shifts into response mode. It collects detailed forensic data to help you understand the nature of the attack and its impact. This data includes timelines of events, allowing you to trace exactly how the threat unfolded. 

Using frameworks like MITRE ATT&CK, runtime security maps out attack patterns and provides clear, actionable steps for remediation. This ensures that security teams can respond quickly and effectively to any incidents, reducing downtime and limiting damage.

Runtime Security Capabilities You Should Consider While Choosing a Tool:

Most organizations get caught up in flashy features and forget the basics when picking a runtime security tool. But without these basics, investing in one just doesn’t make sense.

So, before you commit, here’s what you really need to consider:

1. Comprehensive Cloud Workload Protection

A decent runtime security solution should protect workloads across public, private, and hybrid clouds. They take the charge of securing applications no matter where they are running.  

This level of coverage maintains a strong security posture throughout your entire cloud transformation. It’s important to make sure that security spans every phase of the application lifecycle, leaving no gaps for potential threats.

2. eBPF-Powered Security

The advanced runtime security tools are often eBPF (Extended Berkeley Packet Filter) powered. eBPF provides deep integration into the kernel and visibility into system calls, network packets, and other low-level operations.

This means eBPF-based security solutions provide better real-time monitoring of potential threats efficiently, without slowing down your system.

The ability to enforce security policies directly in the kernel makes the tool faster at threat detection and response, reducing potential damage and performance overhead.

3. Multi-Layered Threat Detection

Runtime security solutions should adopt a multi-layered approach to detect suspicious behaviors early. 

Whether the threat comes from an external attacker or from an application that opens up vulnerabilities, runtime security tools should recognize these patterns and stop them before they cause harm.

For instance, attacks like reverse-shell breaches can bypass traditional firewalls, but a good runtime solution will detect these at the behavioral level, shutting them down before damage is done.

4. Preventive Hardening

A solid runtime security solution isn’t just about responding to attacks, it should also prevent them. The tool must effectively harden the cloud environment to reduce the attack surface. 

For example, making the containers immutable or blocking images with high-severity vulnerabilities to reduce the attack surface. The tool should automate these processes and create a hands-off approach to continuously hardening your workloads.

5. Instant Threat Response and Analysis

Speed matters when cyber threats strike. Your runtime security tool should instantly block zero-day vulnerabilities, stopping damage before it spreads. But fast responses aren’t enough. 

You also need detailed threat analysis to understand how the attack happened and its impact. A solid tool will provide in-depth reports, helping your team analyze incidents, improve future defenses, and ensure compliance. 

Benefits Of Runtime Security:

Zero-Day Attacks

Zero-day attacks are some of the most dangerous because they exploit vulnerabilities that no one even knows exist—yet. Hackers take advantage of these unpatched flaws to compromise systems before developers have a chance to release a fix. 

With runtime security in place, your system is automatically monitored for abnormal behavior, meaning these hidden vulnerabilities are detected and blocked in real-time. This proactive defense ensures that zero-day attacks are stopped before they can cause damage, protecting your applications and data from unseen threats.

Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)

Cross-site scripting (XSS) is a sneaky attack where hackers inject malicious code into trusted websites. When users interact with the infected site, the malicious script runs in their browser, potentially stealing login credentials or personal information. 

Runtime security helps prevent XSS by monitoring application behavior and blocking any unauthorized code execution. Whether it’s a harmless-looking form or a suspicious script, runtime security stops these attacks in their tracks, ensuring your site remains secure and users’ data stays protected—without needing to patch every single potential vulnerability manually.

SQL Injection

SQL injection attacks involve hackers inserting malicious SQL commands into input fields of an application, aiming to manipulate databases, steal data, or even delete information. These attacks exploit poorly secured input validations, and without proper safeguards, they can wreak havoc on your system.

Runtime security actively monitors for any unusual SQL queries or behaviors and blocks unauthorized access attempts instantly. By stopping SQL injections before they have a chance to compromise your database, runtime security ensures the integrity of your applications and the safety of sensitive business data.

DoS and DDoS Attacks

Denial of Service (DoS) and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks flood your network with massive amounts of traffic, overwhelming servers and disrupting normal business operations. These attacks can be devastating, leading to downtime, lost revenue, and frustrated customers.

Runtime security acts as a first line of defense, detecting and stopping these malicious traffic surges in real time. By automatically blocking false requests and preventing systems from being overloaded, runtime security helps maintain your application’s availability and performance, ensuring that business continues smoothly even in the face of such attacks.

A Robust Security Strategy:

Security in the digital world has come a long way. It’s no longer just about protecting simple web applications. Today, businesses face the challenge of securing complex environments, including APIs, cloud workloads, and entire cloud ecosystems. Security strategies must evolve and stay ahead of the curve to keep up.

This shift has pushed companies to embrace multi-layered runtime security strategies. Instead of relying on a one-size-fits-all approach, organizations are customizing their security stacks to fit their specific needs and architecture.

At the heart of these strategies are key technologies like Web Application Firewalls (WAF), which guard against common online threats, and Runtime Application Self-Protection (RASP), which adds a layer of protection within the app itself. There’s also Web Application and API Protection (WAAP), designed to secure both web and API traffic, and Cloud-Native Application Protection Platforms (CNAPP), which offer end-to-end security for cloud-native environments.

By using these tools together, organizations can better defend against evolving cyber threats, ensuring a more resilient and secure infrastructure.